The Why: Philly Explained

Philadelphia has one of  the country’s strongest laws to protect immigrants seeking legal help from being victimized by people posing as lawyers. So why are complaints of fraud on the rise and immigrants still being scammed out of thousands of dollars?

Guests: Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Meet Andy Barrow and Stosh Webb. They’re the kind of Pennsylvania swing voters any candidate is going to need to win in 2020. But recently, the two brothers — one black, the other white — found themselves in the middle of a racist incident in their town. Their response has complicated the traditional narratives around race and politics.

Guest: Jen Kinney, WHYY’s Keystone Crossroads

For more stories from Keystone Crossroads’ Embedded 2020 project, click here.

Wilmington has not had a traditional public high school for more than 20 years. A long history of state-imposed segregation, civil rights lawsuits and a forced busing program has resulted in 2,000 of the city’s poorest students attending under-performing schools in the suburbs. Why did a system intended to integrate public schools lead to less diversity? And why do some think bringing a traditional public high school back to Wilmington could help?

Guests: Mark Eichmann and Cris Barrish

If you’re from Philly, chances are you’ve had a “South Street era” in your life. But what you may not know is throughout the mid-20th century, the city looked at turning its iconic party, music and shopping destination into a highway. Why was South Street spared and what was its lasting impact on the neighborhood?

Guest: Jeremy Tenenbaum, Hidden City

Michael Bloomberg is under fire for comments he made in 2015 about the controversial police tactic of stop and frisk. When he announced his presidential bid last year, Bloomberg apologized for pushing that strategy. The man who helped him craft that speech? Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who’s taken the post as Bloomberg’s national political director. A look at Nutter’s new job on the campaign trail — from stumping at rallies to defending his candidate (and himself) amid controversy.

Guest: Philadephia Magazine staff writer David Murrell

After popping up all over the suburbs, the number of urgent care clinics has doubled in Philadelphia over the last four years — mostly thanks to one Roxborough-based company. We examine just how far these for-profit clinics can go toward filling healthcare gaps in your community.

Guest: Michaela Winberg, WHYY’s Billy Penn

The Philadelphia Police Department’s latest class of recruits is much smaller than average — only 19 people. It also includes zero African Americans in a city that’s 45% African-American. While it’s hard to know if that class is a blip or the start of a pattern, we look at why the city’s police force has long been understaffed, and struggled with diversity. Are you a police officer in the Philly area? We’d love to talk to you. Get started here.

Guest: Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Mensah Dean

While there have been zero cases of coronavirus in Philly, the response has been swift with reports of business being down in Chinatown and cancelled exchange programs and events. We took a closer look at what happened after the first potential case of coronavirus surfaced at a Philadelphia Quaker school. When does measured caution morph into paranoia — and why can it be tough to tell the difference?

Guest: WHYY health reporter Nina Feldman. Billy Penn’s Layla A. Jones contributed reporting.

It’s a problem faced by hundreds of homebuyers across the Philadelphia region: shoddy construction making brand-new homes unlivable and leaving residents on the hook for costly fixes. As city and state officials investigate allegations against a fast-growing Philadelphia developer, we break down why it can be so difficult to hold these companies accountable.

Guest: Meir Rinde for WHYY’s PlanPhilly

After years of fighting, Philadelphia recently won a legal battle with one of its most infamous slumlords. But it cost the city millions, and the tab is still running. Still, the city’s unique action of seizing 45 properties has been a relief to neighbors who see a path to ending blight and creating new affordable housing.

Guest: WHYY criminal justice reporter Aaron Moselle